Swimming frog having stops and surfaces controlling leg movement

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an animated aquatic animal; and more particularly relates to a frog-like body that moves through the water in a frog-like manner. The frog-like movement is achieved by a motor driven linkage that simulates a &#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;frog kick&#39;&#39;&#39;&#39;; the simulated frog kick being produced by a pair of thigh elements and leg elements that are pivotally mounted with relation to the frog-like body and with relation to each other. Stops limit relative pivoting of the thigh and leg elements. Foot surfaces on the leg elements coact with the liquid medium through which the body is driven to move the thigh and leg elements from one stopped position to the other as the leg elements are driven through their cycle of movement.

United States Patent [191 Grieder SWIMMING FROG HAVING STOPS AND SURFACES CONTROLLING LEG MOVEMENT [76] Inventor: Charles K. Grieder, 700 S. Lyon,

Santa Ana, Calif. 92705 [22] Filed: Sept. 25, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 292,056

3,127 8/1877 Great Britain 46/92 [451 Mar. 26, 1974 20,116 9/1896 Great Britain 46/92 PrimaryExaminer-F. Barry Shay [5 7] ABSTRACT The present invention relates to an animated aquatic animal; and more particularly relates to a frog-like body that moves through the water in a frog-like manner. The frog-like movement is achieved by a motor driven linkage that simulates a frog kick"; the simulated frog kick being produced by a pair of thigh elements and leg elements that are pivotally mounted with relation to the frog-like body and with relation to each other. Stops limit relative pivoting of the thigh and leg elements. Foot surfaces on the leg elements coact with the liquid medium through which the body is driven to move the thigh and leg elements from one stopped position to the other as the leg elements are driven through their cycle of movement.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDMARZS 4914 SHEET 1 BF 2 SWIMMING FROG HAVING STOPS AND SURFACES CONTROLLING LEG MOVEMENT BACKGROUND Most water toys for use in bathtubs, swimming pools, ponds, and the like, are of the passive type that merely float on the surface of the water; their movements being merely responsive to pushes, wind pressure, water current, etc. Thus, there is an ever increasing demand for more active water toys that move around in a powered manner; preferably in a manner that resembles the movement of the actual aquatic animal.

One of the most difficult swimming movements to simulate is the swimming movement of a frog; the socalled frog kick" being difficult for even many human swimmers.

OBJECTIVES AND DRAWINGS It is therefore the principal objective of the present invention to provide an improved water toy.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide an improved water toy that simulates the movements of an aquatic animal.

It is still another objective of the present invention to provide an improved water toy that moves in a powered manner.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide an improved water toy that simulates the movement of a swimming frog.

It is a still further objective of the present invention to provide a mechanical linkage that simulates the frog kick.

The attainment of these objects and others will be realized from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings of which;

FIG. 1 shows a pictorial view of the subject water toy, cut away to show the power source and the driving linkage;

FIG. 2 shows a pictorial view of the subject water toy, cut away to show the frogs leg and interconnections;

FIG. 3 shows the power state of the linkage;

FIG. 4 shows the extended state of the linkage;

FIG. 5 shows the recovery state of the linkage;

FIG. 6 shows the contracted state of the linkage; and

FIG. 7 shows an alternative driving mechanism.

SYNOPSIS Broadly speaking, the present invention discloses a mechanical linkage that is energized by a motor to produce a simulated frog kick that moves a frog-like body through the water in a frog-like manner. The linkage comprises, as one important feature, a limiting pin that causes the leg element of the linkage to have a different action on the leg elements forward and backward movement; the limiting pin being adapted to provide this differential action by assuming different locations for the different movements. As a result of this differential action, the linkage produces a frog kick that causes the frog to move through the water in a frog-like manner.

THE OVERALL FROG FIG. 1 shows a pictorial view of a hollow frog-like water toy 10 adapted to float at a water line such as 11; this floating level being established by a floatation chamber 12 in the upper portion of the hollow frog body 10; the floatation chamber being determined by apertures such as 13, and by a ballast weight (to be dis cussed later) that is in the mechanism chamber 14 in the lower portion of the frogs body 10. As indicated, a motor 16 shown as a spring type motor that is wound by means of a winding key 15, but which may alternatively be of the battery operated type is fastened to the frog body 10; motor 16 providing the necessary ballast weight to keep the frog body floating in an upright orientation, the motor 16 also providing the power to move the frogs body forward in a frog-like manner.

THE DRIVING LINKAGE FIG. 1 indicates that motor 16 has a driving mechanism that comprises a drive crank 20 and a drive pin 21 that rotates when the motor 16 is energized; rotary drive crank 20 being pivotally connected to a linkage 17 comprising a pair of connecting rods 22 whose other ends are pivotally connected to respective thigh elements 23, as by means of rod/thigh pivot pins 24. The thigh elements 23 are, in turn, individually pivotally mounted to the frog body by means such as thigh/body pivot pins 25; the thigh elements 23 being further pivotally connected, as by thigh/leg pivot pins 29, to respective leg elements 30 whose foot portions 31 provide most of the actual swimming force. The interconnected linkage and its operation for simulating a frog-kick will be discussed later.

FIG. 2 shows another pictorial view of the frog, this view indicating the shape and extent of the foot por-. tions 31, in order to better understand the operation of the invention.

The following discussion describes apparatus that causes the frog to move through the water in a frog-like manner; and more specifically describes the mechanical linkage that simulates the frog kick. The subsequent illustrations take the form of plan views of the linkage configurations; and since the apparatus is symmetrical with respect to a longitudinal axis, the following description will be given in terms of one side of the linkage the other side of the linkage operating in a mirror image manner.

THE POWER STATE FIG. 3 illustrates the linkage 17 at a midportion of j the dynamic power state. Thedrive crank 20, the drive pin 22, and the connecting rod 22 are shown to be in the process of pivoting the upper thigh element 23 counterclockwise direction around its pivot pin 25, so that the outer end of the upper thigh element 23 is moving backwards as indicated by arrow 26. The rearward movement of the thigh element 23 moves the thigh/leg pivot pin 29 in a rearward arc; and thus tends to move the leg/element 30 in a rearward direction.

'I-Iowever due to the shape, size and orientation of the foot portion 31 of the leg elements 30 the water pressure against the sole portion 32 of the foot portion 31 causes the leg element 30 to pivot in a forward direction as indicated by arrow 34. This leg element rotation continues until the limiting pin 35 of the thigh element abuts the end of slot 36, which acts to stop the rotation of the leg element 30 relative to the thigh element 23. With the linkage in the illustrated position, the clockwise rotation of the crank drive 20 and of the crank pin 21 causes the leg/foot combination to pivot rearwardly as a unit around the thigh/body pivot 25;

this unitary rotation producing an overall rearward and inward movement of the leg/foot combination and thus driving the frog forward through the water.

As suggested above, FIG. 3 illustrates a mid-position of the power state; the described power state actually being a dynamic state that exists for about half a rotation of the driving crank.

THE EXTENDED STATE FIG. 4 shows the extended state of the linkage; this being a static state that follows the above described dynamic power state. In this illustration, the crank drive 20 and the drive pin 21 are indicated to be in their most forward position; so that the connecting rods 22 are also in their most forward position. When the connecting rods 22 are in their illustrated most forward position, their pivotal attachment 24 to the thigh element 23 causes the thigh element 23 to be extended rearwardly. With the thigh element 23 in this rearwardly extended orientation, the thigh/leg pivotal attachments 29 causes the leg element 30 to also extend rearwardly.

The extended state of the leg/foot combination, as shown in FIG. 3, is partially the result of the above described extended state of the linkage; is partly the result of the limiting pin location; is partly the result of the above described power stroke; and is partly the result of water flowing rearward past the frogs body. Thus, in the extended state illustrated in FIG. 4, the frog body would ordinarily be'coasting forward through the water; and the water flow pattern would aid in producing the relatively streamlined extended state shown in FIG. 4.

THE RECOVERY STATE FIG. 5 shows the linkage at a mid-portion of the dynamic recovery state, that follows the extended state of the linkage. Here, the drivecrank 20, drive pin 21, and the connecting rod 22 are shown to be pivoting the thigh element 23 in a clockwise direction around the thigh/body pivot 25, so that the outer end of the thigh element 23 is now moving forward relative to the frog body, as indicated by arrow 41. The forward movement of the thigh element 23 moves the thigh/leg pivot pin 29 in a forward are as indicated by arrow 41; and thus tends to move the entire leg element 30 in a forward direction.

However clue to the size, shape, and orientation of the foot element 31 and of the instep portion 38 the water pressure against the leg element 23, and particularly against the instep portion 38, causes the leg element 30 to pivot in a backward direction as shown by arrow 43.

Eventually, this backward rotation of foot element 30, and the forward rotation of the thigh element 23, causes the limiting pin 35 to abut the other end of the slot 36, which acts to stop the rotation of the leg ele' ment 30 relative to the thigh element 23.

As the leg 30 approaches the position illustrated in FIG. 5, the leg/foot combination of elements tends to be dragged through the water as the limiting pin 35 engages its stop 36.

As suggested above, FIG. 5 illustrates a mid-portion of the recovery state; the described recovery state actually existing for about a half the rotation of the driving mechanism.

THE CONTRACTED STATE FIG. 6 shows the contracted state of the linkage wherein the angle between the leg element and the thigh element is seen to be an acute angle. In this illustration, the drive crank 20 and the drive pin 21 has assumed their most rearward position; and the connecting rod 22 has caused the thigh element 23 to rotate around its pivot 25 to the orientation wherein they are drawn up close to the frog body. The leg element 30, primarily because of the water pressure against the instep portions 42, is now dragging behind the thigh element.

The contracted state of FIG. 6 is preparatory for the power state of the previously discussed FIG. 3; further rotation of the drive crank 20 and the drive pin 21 converting the static contracted state of FIG. 6 to the dynamic state of FIG. 3 wherein the angle between the leg element and the thigh element becomes larger.

As the motor cyclically energizes the drive mechanism to periodically repeat the above described operation, the frogs feet repeatedly simulate the well-known frog kick driving the frog body forward in a life-like manner.

The forward movement of the frogs legs tends to be an easy streamlined movement; whereas the rearward movement of the frogs legs tends to be a fast driving movement the combination resulting from the differential action of the limiting pin 35 and its co-acting stop slot 36.

ALTERNATIVE DRIVE MECHANISM There may be times when a more powerful driving force is desired; either for a larger frog body, for a more powerful swimming stroke, or the like. At such times, a larger or faster motor may be suitable; but at other times, it may be desirable to provide an alternative driving mechanism that produces a longer actual driving stroke.

Such a driving mechanism is indicated in FIG. 7. This shows the above described crank drive 20, crank pin 21, and connecting rods 22; the difference being the use of a sliding yoke 45 that slides axially between suitable guides 46, as indicated by the axial, double ended arrow 47. Yoke 45 contains a transfer slot 48 that receives the rotatable crank pin 21; and thus causes the yoke to oscillate axially as indicated by arrow 47. Yoke 45 has a pivot pin 50 that is pivotally engaged with the ends of the connecting rods 22; so that the ends of the connecting rods 22 oscillate in an axial direction as indicated by arrow 51.

The driving mechanism of FIG. 7 has two advantages; namely, it produces symmetrical action on each of the connecting rods 22, and it can receive differently sized drive cranks 20 thus providing different longitudinal stroke lengths for a more powerful swimming movement.

It will be noted that the drive mechanism may rotate in either direction, since the linkage is symmetrical thus facilitating the choice of driving motors.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosed apparatus may be made as large or as small as desired; in this way becoming suitable as a water toy for a childs bathtub or as an conversation piece for a pond or a swimming pool.

I claim:

1. The combination of a frog-like body having a means therein for aiding floation thereof, having a mechanism chamber therein and having means for producing a simulated frog-kick for said frog-like body said frog-kick producing means comprising:

at least one thigh element pivotally mounted on said frog-like body at a point intermediate the ends of said thigh element;

a leg element pivotally mounted on said thigh element at one side of said point;

at least one connecting rod having one end thereof pivotally connected to said thigh element on the other side of said point; said connecting rod being pivotally linked to a drive means at the other end to cause said thigh element to move about its pivotal mounting on siad frog-like body when said connecting rod is driven by said drive means; means including stops on said leg element and said thigh element coacting with the pivotal mounting therebetween to limit relative movement thereof to movement between a contracted condition wherein they form an acute angle with each other and a power state wherein they form a second angle with each other greater than said acute angle;

said leg element having means including surfaces at its free end whereby, as said elements are drawn forwardly relative to said body said drive means and through a liquid medium, said liquid medium will react against one of said surfaces to force said leg element against one of said stops so that it forms said acute angle with said thigh element and, when said elements are driven rearwardly relative to said body, said liquid medium quickly reacts against another of said surfaces to force said leg element against another said stop so that it forms said second angle with said thigh element.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein:

said stop means comprises a limiting pin.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein:

said limiting pin is affixed to said thigh element, and

coacts with stops in said leg element.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein: said surfaces comprise portions of a foot connected to said leg element. 

1. The combination of a frog-like body having a means therein for aiding floation thereof, having a mechanism chamber therein and having means for producing a simulated frog-kick for said frog-like body said frog-kick producing means comprising: at least one thigh element pivotally mounted on said frog-like body at a point intermediate the ends of said thigh element; a leg element pivotally mounted on said thigh element at one side of said point; at least one connecting rod having one end thereof pivotally connected to said thigh element on the other side of said point; said connecting rod being pivotally linked to a drive means at the other end to cause said thigh element to move about its pivotal mounting on siad frog-like body when said connecting rod is driven by said drive means; means including stops on said leg element and said thigh element coacting with the pivotal mounting therebetween to limit relative movement thereof to movement between a contracted condition wherein they form an acute angle with each other and a power state wherein they form a second angle with each other greater than said acute angle; said leg element having means including surfaces at its free end whereby, as said elements are drawn forwardly relative to said body said drive means and through a liquid medium, said liquid medium will react against one of said surfaces to force said leg element against one of said stops so that it forms said acute angle with said thigh element and, when said elements are driven rearwardly relative to said body, said liquid medium quickly reacts against another of said surfaces to force said leg element against another said stop so that it forms said second angle with said thigh element.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein: said stop means comprises a limiting pin.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein: said limiting pin is affixed to said thigh element, and coacts with stops in said leg element.
 4. The combination of claim 1 wherein: said surfaces comprise portions of a foot connected to said leg element. 